Need help with Winfield Merc (damaged)

We will have this lime gold Merc that Winfield built in the early 90's, in our shop soon for repairs. The shipping company damaged it in transit. They pulled on the hood scoops to try to get the POWER hood open and cracked them. (imagine that...) We will need to speak to Gene about what paint colors that he used to get this car back to show quality. I'm going to contact Gene through his secretary at the shop (is she still on here alot?) I just wanted some possible connections or help in any way to restore this custom to it's former glory.

Thanks to Rikster for the pics...





Here it is in the previous paint form. Which I think looks better.....

 

Gene is returning from Canada and should be back in the shop tomorrow if his flights go OK. Julie should be around there if you want to call to verify that.

Was this the car that sold at the Barrett Jackson Auction shortly before the King T?

 

Yes it is....

Thanks for the help. I'll call Julie this week.

 

If you can talk the owner into going green... do it!

 

I was workin' on the new owner yesterday when I went to look at the shipping damage. He says he likes the first paint also, but considering the cash he just put out on this ride he doesn't see us changing the color back to the green....just minor repairs for now.

We will be doing some updates like making sure it will start and run first of all...(it seems to have been sitting for a long time). It tossed the blower belt off of it on startup last weekend! We will be making the full width rear taillight fully functional all the way across. It just has bulbs at the very ends right now. A bit of tuning up and love and this sucker will be back on the road in no time!

 

Not to take away from your painting abilities, but maybe you could arrange for Gene to do a painting seminar at your shop in Missouri and he could repaint the car to it's original color for the owner. The original blended paint was really something. The car would be worth so much more with a Winfield paint job.

 

I hope it turns out OK, I honestly can't think of a more difficult paint repair than a Winfield paint job.

I must say, I like the green with the Buick side trim myself. I wonder why they changed it.

 

I've always wondered why I like green chopped Merc's so much. Maybe the Sam Barris or Hirohito merc's influenced me. Had to paint mine green because of it.

Can't blame the owner for wanting to just repair the damage for now. Make the car reliable and functional and just drive it for now.

 

I know gene sprayed the dark green, but did he respray it in the lime candy with the flames? If not, then anyone know who resprayed it?

 

That Merc has had some bad luck. Wasn't it also damaged when some stuff fell on it during an earthquake?

 

I think it fell off the jacks during an earthquake.... right before it was going to debut.

 

Rik,
Any history to this custom? Was Gene the first to customize it or did it have another form before the 90's?

 

As far as I know it was Gene who did most of the body work.(or at least it was done at his shop)

Will the Buick side trim be reinstalled? It looks really plane without it!


Custom Rodder Article on the car from March 1996...

Click the photo for a full scan.

 

Thanks for the article scan Rik!

I'm trying to get the new owner to reinstall the buick side trim. The mounting holes were filled when it got painted the candy gold color. There is actually a built-up sculpted ridge about 1/2" tall at the top edge of the trim embossed into the body. Nice work! I think it looks naked without it. Do you know why or who painted it gold? Was it due damage or somebody just wanted to re-vamp it?

 

Gene will be gone this weekend and the next weekend. He will be in during the week if you want to try then. He will be at the shop from May 1 - 14, no trips due to some filming..that would be the very best time to get him..

Thanks Nick for sending me this link This is the secretary, btw and my vote is for going back to the green too.

 

It's a Winfield car, it need the "Winfield Fade". Nobody does it better.

 

Gene is the king of fades ..I hope He lives a long healthy life

 

The car looks TERRIBLE gold! It should be put back to green with the fades and side trim. Otherwise it just looks like a clone...

 

A clone of WHAT!!!!

 

Someone's idea of what a Winfield Merc should look like.

 

Don't question Bob......

.......he's BADDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!


I too vote for green...but prefer to simply see this car going down the road...green or not.

I think those taillights are badass!

 

So do I!!! That's why we are going to do what we can to make that whole light work all the way across. The lights on just the ends don't do it justice......

 

I just talked to Gene moments ago. He is getting ready to fly to Texas. He did not paint the car gold but knows who did. He will try to locate the guys number and get it to you. He too would love to see the car repainted green and I am sure would do it himself if asked to.

 

Lose the side pipe, put bumpers back on the car, repaint and cover the green flames, and repaint the whole car lime gold and it would look nice.

 

Clean Cut- can we get some night pictures with all of the taillights working? That would be sweet!

 

YES! Green is best on the Merc! cw.

 

That car needs to be green with all the original trim.....

 

When we get this sucker done we will post some pics of the finished product and all of the changes.

 

It was very nice speaking to you on the phone today. Thanks for the info and link to Gene. I hope we can work together on something in the future.

 

That car desrves to be painted back green.